GONAL-F 150 IU/0.24 ML (11 MICROGRAMS/0.24 ML) SOLUTION FOR INJECTION IN PRE-FILLED PEN [SIN16473P]

Product Info

GONAL-F 150 IU/0.24 ML (11 MICROGRAMS/0.24 ML) SOLUTION FOR INJECTION IN PRE-FILLED PEN

[SIN16473P]

4.1 Therapeutic indications

In adult women

• Anovulation (including polycystic ovarian syndrome) in women who have been unresponsive to treatment with clomiphene citrate.

• Stimulation of multifollicular development in women undergoing superovulation for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), gamete intra-fallopian transfer and zygote intra-fallopian transfer.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Treatment with GONAL-f should be initiated under the supervision of a physician experienced in the treatment of fertility disorders.

Patients must be provided with the correct number of pens for their treatment course and educated to use the proper injection techniques.

Posology

The dose recommendations given for GONAL-f are those in use for urinary FSH. Clinical assessment of GONAL-f indicates that its daily doses, regimens of administration, and treatment monitoring procedures should not be different from those currently used for urinary FSH-containing medicinal products. It is advised to adhere to the recommended starting doses indicated below.

Comparative clinical studies have shown that on average patients require a lower cumulative dose and shorter treatment duration with GONAL-f compared with urinary FSH. Therefore, it is considered appropriate to give a lower total dose of GONAL-f than generally used for urinary FSH, not only in order to optimise follicular development but also to minimise the risk of unwanted ovarian hyperstimulation. See section 5.1 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information.

Bioequivalence has been demonstrated between equivalent doses of the monodose presentation and the multidose presentation of GONAL-f.

Women with anovulation (including polycystic ovarian syndrome)

GONAL-f may be given as a course of daily injections. In menstruating women treatment should commence within the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle.

A commonly used regimen commences at 75–150 international units FSH daily and is increased preferably by 37.5 or 75 international units at 7 or preferably 14 day intervals if necessary, to obtain an adequate, but not excessive, response. Treatment should be tailored to the individual patient’s response as assessed by measuring follicle size by ultrasound and/or oestrogen secretion. The maximal daily dose is usually not higher than 225 international units FSH. If a patient fails to respond adequately after 4 weeks of treatment, that cycle should be abandoned and the patient should undergo further evaluation after which she may recommence treatment at a higher starting dose than in the abandoned cycle.

When an optimal response is obtained, a single injection of 250 micrograms recombinant human choriogonadotropin alfa (r-hCG) or 5,000 international units, up to 10,000 international units hCG should be administered 24–48 hours after the last GONAL-f injection. The patient is recommended to have coitus on the day of, and the day following, hCG administration. Alternatively intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be performed.

If an excessive response is obtained, treatment should be stopped and hCG withheld (see section 4.4 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information). Treatment should recommence in the next cycle at a dose lower than that of the previous cycle.

Women undergoing ovarian stimulation for multiple follicular development prior to in vitro fertilisation or other assisted reproductive technologies

A commonly used regimen for superovulation involves the administration of 150–225 international units of GONAL-f daily, commencing on days 2 or 3 of the cycle. Treatment is continued until adequate follicular development has been achieved (as assessed by monitoring of serum oestrogen concentrations and/or ultrasound examination), with the dose adjusted according to the patient’s response, to usually not higher than 450 international units daily. In general adequate follicular development is achieved on average by the tenth day of treatment (range 5 to 20 days).

A single injection of 250 micrograms r-hCG or 5,000 international units up to 10,000 international units hCG is administered 24–48 hours after the last GONAL-f injection to induce final follicular maturation.

Down-regulation with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or antagonist is now commonly used in order to suppress the endogenous LH surge and to control tonic levels of LH. In a commonly used protocol, GONAL-f is started approximately 2 weeks after the start of agonist treatment, both being continued until adequate follicular development is achieved. For example, following two weeks of treatment with an agonist, 150–225 international units GONAL-f are administered for the first 7 days. The dose is then adjusted according to the ovarian response.

Overall experience with IVF indicates that in general the treatment success rate remains stable during the first four attempts and gradually declines thereafter.

Special population

Elderly population

There is no relevant use of GONAL-f in the elderly population. Safety and effectiveness of GONAL-f in elderly patients have not been established.

Renal or hepatic impairment

Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of GONAL-f in patients with renal or hepatic impairment have not been established.

Paediatric population

There is no relevant use of GONAL-f in the paediatric population.

Method of administration

GONAL-f is intended for subcutaneous administration. The first injection of GONAL--f should be performed under direct medical supervision. Self-administration of GONAL-f should only be performed by patients who are well motivated, adequately trained and have access to expert advice.

As GONAL-f pre-filled pen with multidose cartridge is intended for several injections, clear instructions should be provided to the patients to avoid misuse of the multidose presentation.

For instructions on the administration with the pre-filled pen, see section 6.6 and the “Instructions for Use” – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information.

4.3 Contraindications

• hypersensitivity to the active substance follitropin alfa, FSH or to any of the excipients

• tumours of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland

• ovarian enlargement or ovarian cyst not due to polycystic ovarian syndrome

• gynaecological haemorrhages of unknown aetiology

• ovarian, uterine or mammary carcinoma

GONAL-f must not be used when an effective response cannot be obtained, such as:

• primary ovarian failure

• malformations of sexual organs incompatible with pregnancy

• fibroid tumours of the uterus incompatible with pregnancy